Im with Rob on this one trying for the land speed record for your car is way more important than that stupid phone call all about nothing .

 

My works van has a hands free phone kit in it, which obviously makes it totally legal to be on the phone whilst driving, BUT you really do get so distracted whilst in a conversation. This has happened to me a few times you lose all concentration on your driving and focus on your call.

My work has now put a stop to all phone calls whilst driving anyway. Ive never been caught on my phone but I was quite bad for texting until a few weeks ago. Was going down the bypass and was looking at the road, then the text, then the road, then the text, then FUCK!! A tractor had pulled off a slip road and was doing about 20mph, I was doing 70! Nearly in the back of him after looking away for a split second. Shit me up that so it did, so my texting whilst driving has now stopped

 

The logic is actually pretty simple. In your case it would be very difficult to establish what the true cause was. It could have been a tired driver, it could have equally been a perfectly capable driver that simply got things wrong as we all do from time to time. It's very difficult to police and enforce offences such as tiredness, although various bodies do want this. The phone one is easy - it's quite obvious whether someone is using a mobile or not.

Rick

 

It's actually very easy. A competent driver doesnt drive into the back of stationary vehicles.

TBH the cause or reasons used to try and justify it are irrelevant. If the police deem that sort of person safer than one who may speed but has never had an accident in their life....well, that's a seriously fucked up logic.

In fact, most motoring related "offences" are seriously fucked up and have been created purely so they can issue easy fines.

 

I think you're being overly synical. A lot of it is about enforcibility because it has to be. Everyone including the autorities have limited resources. Speeding and using a phone is pretty black and white. If i got caught doing either, i'd take it on the chin.

Agreed that the parked in the car case re the mobiles needs good judgement on behalf of the officer. The law simply states keys in ignition as it does for drink driving, which makes it much easier to enforce. Otherwise the term parked or stationary could be up for interpretation.

Rick

 

Speeding etc is black and white, everytime they change the rules to make it easier to fine people. Does their approach actually benefit road safety for the amount of resources pumped into each ?

No, clearly not. They should concentrate on bad driving which IS the cause of the majority of accidents. Not speeding.

They choose to ignore many very easy and enforceable genuine road safety matters which would cost little to implement. And continue to dream up legislation for easy fines, regardless of the actual benefit to anyone.

 

That's not the case at all.

The "simple logic" is that unless someone is injured, the road is obstructed, or someone involved in the accident has left the scene, the police genuinely have better things to do, like hunting down drug dealers, rapists, murderers, etc. It's up to you to be grown up about the matter and sort it out yourself, which is something people in this country have become increasingly incapable of doing.

If you're speeding, you're breaking the law. If you're taking drugs, you're breaking the law. Just because you're not instantly reprimanded at the moment you break the law, it doesn't make what you're doing any safer or more legal, or socially acceptable than someone who sneezes at the wheel and drives into the back of your car - they didn't break the law by sneezing, but by your logic, they're a criminal who needs to have a police car with probably two officers come and see what's happened, escort the driver to a cell, interview him, charge him with driving without due care and attention, and have him prosecuted. Time? Money?

Meanwhile, your parents house is being robbed. They call the police, who can't come for several hours. Everybody throws their toys out of the pram and demands to know "Why?" Because they're dealing with a minor bump'n'shunt that two adults couldn't sort out between themselves!

And also by your logic, a competent driver (and I'm assuming you're putting yourself in this bracket) doesn't commit any kind of motoring offence, and therefore has nothing to complain about. Or did I miss the point?

 

Actually yes.

The point is...what constitutes an offence ? At the minute it's things they make up so they can fine you for them.
Often those "offences" cause no harm or hassle to anyone. In fact most of the time they do.

Yet when others cause genuine harm or damage to others person or property...the law doesnt want to know.

So that's what I dont understand. What is an offence or crime these days ?

You certainly seem to be suggesting that just because they turn an act into an offence, that they are right and just to do so. No questions asked etc

Sadly I dont fall into that category. Things need to make some sense first before I'll simply agree with everything they say